GRANDPARENTS RIGHTS ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY

The deeper I dig into the area of Grandparenting and the need for some form of Grandparents rights I find some statistical as well as anecdotal consistencies. I find more and more that extended families with 6-8 grandchildren will be fine with 2/3rds or 3/4ths of the grandkids but may experience trouble with effective visitation and correspondence with that smaller fraction of the family. This is a generalization, of course, but I make it to clarify a point about Grandparenting in general.

Statistically there will be a greater challenge if the family unit that is experiencing trouble is headed by your son. The other two major aggravating factors are Drug abuse and/or incarceration. From my reading it seems that in these cases guilt and false pride play a big role in emotionally charged rather than caring and intelligent decision making.

Regardless of the motivating factors for obvious reasons this is exactly the time and place for Caring Grandparents involvement for the sake of the children. An observation here is that you may well have to choose between trying to retrain your own children or rescuing the Grandchildren. Just a thought.

The good news is that the vast majority of the Grandparent/Grandchild relationships, even in families that have experienced divorce, death, etc., are flourishing with healthy and valuable interaction on a regular basis. This is what I call GRANDPARENT POWER. We are gifted the opportunity to lavish these wonderful little and big kids with all the love and attention they deserve.

My hope for you is Great-Grandparenting! Grandpa Neil